Huron Historic Gaol
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Established | 1842 |
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Location | Goderich, Ontario, Canada |
Director | Beth Ross |
Website | www.huroncounty.ca/museum |
[edit] History
The Huron Historic Gaol was established in 1842 as the gaol for Huron County in Ontario. It was built in Goderich, Ontario, and originally housed the County Courts and Council Chambers.
In 1869, the Gaol was the site of the last public hanging in Canada (The death penalty was only completely abolished in 1976).
The gaol was transformed to a museum in 1972, after all of the prisoners had been transferred to regional facilities around Huron County.
[edit] Design
The octagonal Gaol was designed in 1839 by Thomas Young, and at the time it was considered a model of humanitarian design.